Lens housing and lens cover for objective lens ring of an operating microscope

ABSTRACT

A flexible, resilient, distortable lens housing adapted to snugly receive the objective lens ring of the objective lens of an operating microscope is provided with a removable lens cover. The lens cover includes an easily accessible manipulative handle.

United States Patent Geraci Mar. 12, 1974 LENS HOUSING AND LENS COVERFOR 3.698,791 /1972 Walchle et al 350/61 OBJECTIVE LENS RING OF AN2,197,184 4/1940 Kemp 350/58 OPERATING MICROSCOPE 5/1964 3,426,4332/1969 Anderson 350/ X Inventor: James Leonard Geraci, Cincinnati,

- Ohio Assignee: Xomox Corporation, Cincinnati,

Ohio

Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 Appl. No.: 292,148

US. Cl 350/65, 350/318, 350/319 Int. Cl. G02b 23/16 Field of Search350/61, 65, 67, 318, 319

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1970 Treace 350/61 PrimaryExaminerD\-'id H. Rubin Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ. Warren Kinney, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A flexible, resilient, distortable lens housing adapted tosnugly receive the objective lensring of the objective lens of anoperating microscope is provided with a removable lens cover. The lenscover includes an easlly accessible manipulative handle.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 12 I974 33; 79 277 sum 1 or 2FIG-l 28 -flection from the lens cover.

LENS HOUSING AND LENS COVER FOR OBJECTIVE LENS RING OF AN OPERATINGMICROSCOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the inventionrelates to a sterilized, disposable lens housing and associated lenscover for the objective lens ring of an operating microscope, and inparticular, to an improvement in the structural details of the lenshousing and lens cover carried thereby.

The improved lens housing is fabricated from flexible, resilientmaterial and includes means for securely, though releaseably,positioning a removable lens cover relative to the objective lens of anoperating microscope in such a manner that it, the lens cover, may beeasily removed at the option of the practitioner without necessitatingremoval of the lens housing from the objective lens or lens ring of themicroscope.

The subject lens housing and its associated lens cover may be used incombination with the objective lens ring of a microscope, or inconjunction with a sterilized, disposable drape for an operatingmicroscope.

In the performance of certain surgical operations, such as, by way ofexample, a mastoid operation, it is not uncommon for bone fragments andblood to be splattered about. The lens housing and lens cover of thesubject invention provide highly effective and efficient means forprotecting the objective lens of a microscope from foreign particles,during an operation, and in the event that such foreign particles aredeposited on the lens cover it is but a simple matter for the surgeon oroperating room nurse to remove the blood splattered lens cover from thelens housing thereby providing the surgeon with a clear and unobstructedview of the field being observed. The structural details of the lenshousing are such as to facilitate ease of removal, and if desired theassociation of another lens cover with the lens housing, therebyproviding maximum protection and flexibility.

Thelens housing of the subject invention is fabricated in such a manneras to provide an integrally formed, highly effective light shield orbarrier which will greatly reduce, if not completely eliminate any re-DESCRIPTIONOF THE PRIOR ART U. S. Pat. No. 3,698,791 datedOct. 17, 1972,assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses a sterile drapefor an operating microscope, which drape includes a lens ring housinghaving a lens cover for the objective lens ofthe microscope, said lenscover being fixedly secured to and comprising an integral part of thelens housing.

Richards Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., is producing amicroscope drape as disclosed in its Patent No. 3,528,720, wherein acircular piece of flat, transparent material is loosely secured to andcarried by the objective lens ring structure 53 illustrated in FIG. 9 ofsaid patent, wherein said circular piece is supported by the inwardly,radially projecting rim portion 61 on the lower circumferential bodyportion of annular body 55 of the objective lens ring structure 53. Eventhough said circular member is loosely associated with the aforesaidobjective lens ring 53, it cannot be removed or disassociated from thelens ring once the drape has been associated in housing relationshipwith an operating microscope without destroying the lens ring structure53, or without removing the entire drape from the microscope. Theobjective ring structure 53 of said patent is fabricated from thermoplastic material such as high impact styrene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The lens housing and lens cover of the presentinvention is directed to an improvement of the structural details of andmethod of using a lens cover for the objective lens ring of an operatingmicroscope, whether said lens housing be used separately or inconjunction with a sterilized, disposable drape for an operatingmicroscope. I

The lens housing is fabricated from easily distortable, flexible,resilient material, such as silicone, or the like, where-by to provide ahousing for and from which the substantially rigid, transparent lenscover can be easily removed while the housing is mounted on theobjective lens ring of a microscope.

DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a typicaloperating microscope having a disposable, sterile drape operably'associated therewith.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lens housing and lens cover of thesubject invention in conjunction with a portion of the drape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FlG. 2 illustrating the lens cover beinginserted into or removed from the lens housing.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken transverselythrough the lens housing and lens cover, illustrating the normalrelationship thereof with the objective lens ring of a microscopehousing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification ofthe lens housing and lens cover.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the lens housing and lens cover ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified formof lens housing. I

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the lens housing and lens cover ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification ofthe lens housing and lens cover.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the lens housing and lens coverof FIG. 9.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With particular reference now toFIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the numeral denotes generally a lens ring housingwhich is fabricated from a resilient material such as, by way ofexample, 70 Durometer PVC, and having therein an opening 64 defining aninner wall 64' which is dimensioned to snugly receive and frictionallyengage the outer peripheral surface of the projecting objective lensring 48 of the microscope housing 40. A

' circumferential groove 68 is provided in the inner wall posed inabutting relationship with the lower surface 47 of the objective lensring 48, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Lens cover 62 is provided with an outwardly projecting tab or hand gripportion 72. A notched recess 80 is provided in the lens ring housing,note FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, for receiving hand grip portion 72 which isseated therein when the lens cover 62 is seated within groove 68 of thelens ring housing 60.

In those instances in which it becomes necessary or desirable to removeor disassociate the lens cover from the lens ring housing, the surgeon,technician or operating room nurse, may quickly, surely and effectivelydisassociate the lens cover from the lens housing merely by graspinghand grip 72 and pulling downwardly thereon. The inherent resilience ofthe lens ring housing will permit it to distort sufficiently to permitremoval of the lens cover from groove 68 without disturbing therelationship between the objective lens ring 48 and housing 60.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the lens housing isprovided with an outwardly or forwardly projecting peripheral portion 70which defines a glare shield which circumscribes and projects outwardlybeyond outer surface 65 of lens cover 62. Member 70 effectively lessensthe incidence of reflection into the objective lens of a microscope.

In those instances in which the surgeon is concerned with a localizedsterile condition only immediately adjacent the field being observedthrough the microscope, the lens housing 60 and its associated lenscover 62 are adapted to be utilized, per se, for providing a localizedsterile environment at the objective lens of the microscope, it beingunderstood that a lens ring housing 60 with its lens cover 62operatively associated therewith are provided in a sterile condition,such as, by way of example in a sterile envelope for use by the surgeon,operating nurse, etc.

However, a broader use of the lens ring housing and the lens cover ofthe present invention is presented in those instances in which they areassociated with a sterile drape as disclosed in patent application, Ser.No. 135,108, wherein the lens housing and lens cover of the subjectapplication replace the lens housing and lens disclosed in said pendingapplication.

With particular reference now to FIG. 1, the numeral 20. denotesgenerally a conventional operating microscope which is adjustablymounted relative to an upright 22, or other suitable support means bymeans of a support arm which, by way of example, may comprise a seriesof adjustably connected elements 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 which arearticulated in such a manner as to enable the user of the microscope toadjust it in any desired position for enabling an observer looking intoeyepiece 36 of ocular 38 to examine and study the contents of the fieldbeing observed, such as, by way of example, the eyes, ears, nose,throat, etc. of a patient. The microscope also includes an objectivelens 40 and an illuminating lamp, not shown. It should be understoodthat the microscope in its entirety including its support arm assembly,is a standard piece of equipment and constitutes no part of the subjectinvention.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 50 denotes generally anelongate envelope or drape fabricated from a thin, preferablytransparent, copolymer sheet material of the type which is capable ofwithstanding temperatures of 300F without injurious effects. The drapecomprises' a substantially tubular member having an elongate bodyportion 52 which is open at one end 54, the other end terminates in oneor more tubular extensions on sleeves 56 each dimensioned totelescopically receive an ocular 38 of the microscope. The objectivelens includes an annular objective lens ring 48 that projects from thehousing. see FIG. 4.

Lens ring housing 60 is fixedly secured, such as, by way of example, toan opening 59 in drape 50, by means of an adhesive 66, FIG. 4.Association of lens ring housing 60 with the objective lens ring 48 ofthe microscope provides an air tight seal between the lens ring anddrape 50.

It will be noted that the aforesaid air tight relationship will continueto exist even though, and in the event that, the lens cover 62 isremoved or disassociated from the lens ring housing 60.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the resilient lens ringhousing 60 is adapted to be distorted sufficiently to permit the seatingand unseating of lens cover 62 relative to groove 68. Lens cover 62 maytherefore be displaced bodily, as in FIG. 2, to expose the objectivelens of the microscope, and due to the inherent resilientcharacteristics of the lens ring housing 60, it will accommodateobjective lens rings of varying diametral dimensions.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lens ring housing160 is illustrated as comprising a rectangular member centrallyapertured as at 164 and having an internal groove 168 to provide a seatfor support of circular lens cover 162. The upper surface of the lensring housing is secured, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, to the outersurface of drape by means of an adhesive 166. The numeral 170 indicatesa retaining flange 170 which is pliant and resilient to the degree thatit will yield to permit the bodily insertion of the lens cover 162 andthe seating of said cover within groove 160.

The primary distinction between the dvice of FIGS. 24 and FIGS. 5 and 6,resides in the fact that the lens cover of FIGS. 5 and 6 are not adaptedto be as easily disassociated from the lens ring housing, as the lenscover of FIGS. 24.

In the modification of FIGS. 7 and 8, the overall thickness of the lensring housing 260 is such as to provide an annular, depending shield 270of considerable depth whereby to minimize glare and reflection. As inthe case of-FIG. 6, the lens cover 262 is securely, though removably,supported in an internal groove 268, and the lens ring housing per se isfixedly secured to drape 50, such as, by way of means of adhesive 266.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lens cover 362comprises a convex central portion 362 and a substantially flat, upperperipheral lip 361 which is securely though releaseably housed withinannular groove 368 of the lens housing 360. The use of a convex portion362 of the lens cover of FIGS. 9 and 10 effectively mitigates reflectionby deflecting the rays of any sidelight which would otherwise tend toenter the objective lens of the microscope housing.

Referring now to each of FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 10, it should be understoodthat in those instances in which the respective ring housings and theirassociated lens covers are to be used separately from a microscope drape50, the relationships between the objective lens ring 48 and the variouslens ring housings and lens covers is as illustrated, except for thefact that the drapes I and adhesive areas where the drapes are securedto the upper surface of the lens ring housings are deleted.

What is claimed is: 1. In a disposable microscope drape for positioningover an operating microscope in enclosing relationship thereto andcomprising an elongate, continuous, substantially tubular drape openatone end and having a flexible, resilient, distortable, lens ring housingsecured to and carried by the drape in a position of registry with anobjective lens ring of the microscope, said housing having a centralopening therethrough defining an inner wall to snugly receive saidobjective lens ring, said inner wall having an annular, lens coverretaining groove therein, an optically clear, distortion free lens coversnugly removably received at its outer periphery in said lens coverretaining groove in said lens ring housing in spanning relationship tosaid opening whereby to overlie the objective lens of said microscope,saidhousing having a radially extending recess therein extending fromthe inner wall to the outer surface thereof, and an outwardly extendedmanipulative handle on said lens cover which may be manually grasped toremove said cover from said housing without damaging said housing ordisturbing the position of said housing when it is operativelypositioned on the objective lens of a microscope, said handle receivedin said recess when said lens cover is positioned in said groove.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing com;-

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein an integral, annular, axiallyprojecting glare shield is on the front surface of said housing aroundsaid opening.

1. In a disposable microscope drape for positioning over an operatingmicroscope in enclosing relationship thereto and comprising an elongate,continuous, substantially tubular drape open at one end and having aflexible, resilient, distortable, lens ring housing secured to andcarried by the drape in a position of registry with an objective lensring of the microscope, said housing having a central openingtherethrough defining an inner wall to snugly receive said objectivelens ring, said inner wall having an annular, lens cover retaininggroove therein, an optically clear, distortion free lens cover snuglyremovably received at its outer periphery in said lens cover retaininggroove in said lens ring housing in spanning relationship to saidopening whereby to overlie the objective lens of said microscope, saidhousing having a radially extending recess therein extending from theinner wall to the outer surface thereof, and an outwardly extendedmanipulative handle on said lens cover which may be manually grasped toremove said cover from said housing without damaging said housing ordisturbing the position of said housing when it is operativelypositioned on the objective lens of a microscope, said handle receivedin said recess when said lens cover is positioned in said groove.
 2. Adevice as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises 70 Durometer PVC. 3.A device as in claim 1, wherein the lens cover comprises acrylic.
 4. Adevice as in claim 1, wherein the housing has a front surface and a rearsurface, said central opening extending from the front surface throughthe rear surface, and said annular groove spaced from the rear surface adistance so as to position tHe cover secured therein in engagement withan outer peripheral edge of the lens ring.
 5. A device as in claim 4,wherein an integral, annular, axially projecting glare shield is on thefront surface of said housing around said opening.